This month, a number of students have the opportunity to shape the Temple experience by participating in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).

The NSSE is a survey designed for students to provide information about their undergraduate experience, including views about the nature and quality of their education and how they spend their time.

The online survey will be sent to a random sample of 5,700 first-year and senior Temple students. The survey is anonymous and only takes about 15 minutes to complete. The invitation to participate, sent from Theresa A. Powell, vice president of Student Affairs, was e-mailed on Monday, Feb. 16 and included a link to the survey. Reminder e-mails will be sent over the next few weeks.

Since its launch in 2000, more than 1,300 four-year colleges and universities have participated in NSSE to learn more about what students think so they can improve the undergraduate program. The survey responses are used by faculty and administrators to improve the educational experience. By understanding how Temple’s student experiences compare with students at hundreds of other colleges and universities, the university can pinpoint and address areas that need improvement, both in and out of the classroom. The survey results will also indicate important trends in undergraduate education.

Temple students last participated in the spring 2007 NSSE with an overall response rate of 27 percent, compared to an average national response rate of 37 percent. This spring, several steps are being taken to increase NSSE awareness around campus and to increase the Temple student response rate. A pre-survey announcement was e-mailed to the students and colorful flyers are posted around campus. In addition, students who respond to the survey will be entered into a drawing to win one of ten $50 Diamond Dollar awards.

Participating in the NSSE is a wonderful opportunity for Temple students to let the university know what they experience in and out of the classroom.

“This year, we are counting on Temple students to respond so we can meet our goal of exceeding a 30 percent response rate,” said Sally Frazee, director of the Measurement and Research Center, one of the Temple offices coordinating this year’s administration of the NSSE.

Additional information about the NSSE can be found at www.nsse.iub.edu. To learn more about Temple's participation in NSSE and how the university uses the survey results, contact Jodi Levine Laufgraben at jodih@temple.edu or 215-204-8873.